info on Denney family from Early Denney Family History, ascribed to
Lincoln Denney, unpublished, presented to Jean Wallace by her daughter
Mrs. Ed Duncan, Mills Springs, KY; also owned by Mrs. Lela Denney
Hutcheson (daughter of Lincoln), Frazier, KY;

additional info from the papers of Ruth Huff of Bloomington, IN, and
the work of Guy Denney of Indianapolis, IN.

There is much controversy among Denney genealogists concerning
the ancestry of Samuel Denney, c. 1745 VA--1806, Wayne Co., KY, and his
probable brothers William, George, Charles, John, Iseriah, James, etc.
Some traditional researchers discount the records of Lincoln, Ruth, and
Guy Denney, et. al., because of the lack of source information for those
generations preceding Samuel's. This is understandable. However, some even
question the existence of immigrants Jeremiah and Iseriah, sons of Edward,
going so far as to assert that perhaps the two were invented. "Absence of
proof is not proof of absence," as the archaeologists say. Additionally, a
few Denney researchers have compounded the problem by trying to attach
Samuel to other various Denney family trees. At this point, there seem to
be as many ancestries for Samuel as there are researchers.

I have chosen to retain the Edward>Jeremiah>Iseriah>
ancestry of my Samuel, c.1745-1806, because even if the disputed early
ancestry is based on an oral history--which well may be the case--I'm of
the opinion that the oral history be retained until there is documented
proof to the contrary. I believe that there is a kernel of truth--however
enhanced or convoluted--in every family history story.

So while my Samuel, his heirs, and descendants are documented in
Wayne County, KY, and elsewhere, the generations preceding him, given on
this Denney genealogy page, are, therefore, all we have until proven
otherwise. I have also tried to include all the various stories found so
far in the hopes that one may contain a clue for some future Denney
researcher/s.

from the Lincoln Denney notebook:

"In 1642, the Denney family was
living in the northeastern part of the city of Dublin, Ireland. They were
Presbyterians. Previously they had immigrated there from York, England.
Some years before that they had resided in the Highlands of
Scotland. It is supposed that this is where the family
originated...

"When the time came for the
sons of Edward to leave their home, the father gave them the family Bible
with the record of the family for over three hundred years." [Admittedly,
this length of time is questionable.]

Edward and younger children went to Tralee, Ireland, during
Catholic-Protestant uprising; his wife and older children went to North
Ireland. Edward was Presbyterian who emigrated from York, England,
to Ireland;

2 sons to America: Jeremiah and Iseriah;

from Huff papers: "Edward living in Dublin, Ireland, in northeastern
part of city; had several boys that went to Northern Ireland; younger
children went to Tralee, with their father; changed spelling of Denney at
time of Catholic Massacre to distinguish between Catholic and Protestant
members of family: Protestant-Denney, Catholic-Denny; Presbyterians had
immigrated from York, England."

"On derivation of the name--The
Denney name, according to linguists, originated on the Normandy coastal
area of France, during the Viking settlement, 700--900 AD, as a derivative
of Danish/Danes (Viking) men, L'Denshmen, or in later French L'Dennie,
'the danes'. Some early Normandy Denshmen traveled to southern England to
settle there, and their descendants later moved into Ireland and Scotland.
Various Denneys migrated to America in the late 1600s and early
1700s."

Listed in Famous Denneys at same site--"Sir Anthony Denny was a
favorite at the English Court... In 1544 he was Knighted by King
Henry VIII. Shakespeare gave Sir Anthony a significant role in his
production "King Henry VIII," Act 5, Sc.1. Sir Anthony became the
proprietor of 20,000 acres including the Abby of St. Albans and Butterwick
Castle."

Children of Edward Denney are:

+ 2 i. Jeremiah2 Denney, born in Of Tralee,
Ireland.

3 ii. Iseriah Denney.

More About Iseriah Denney:

Fact 1: died of fever; no descendents;

Generation No. 2

2. Jeremiah2 Denney (Edward1) was born in Tralee, Ireland.

More About Jeremiah Denney:

Fact 1: had 6 children;

At right at the red star is Tralee, Ireland, from which
Jeremiah and at least one brother Iseriah emigrated. At left is a
map of the thirteen colonies of America showing Virginia in the
middle.

Child of Jeremiah Denney is:

+ 4 i. Iseriah3 Denney, born Abt. 1720 in
Virginia.

Generation No. 3

4. Iseriah3 Denney (Jeremiah2,
Edward1) was born Abt. 1720 in Virginia. He married Mary
1740 in Hanover Co., VA. She was born Abt. 1725, and died Bef. 1804 in
Virginia.

Notes for Iseriah Denney:

from Ruth Huff's Denney family papers: supposition that he was named
for uncle who died after crossing, never having had children;

More About Iseriah Denney:

Fact 1: 11 sons and 1 daughter;

Fact 2: 4 of Iseriah's sons were minute-men in Revolution: Samuel,
James and 2 others;

5. Samuel4 Denney
(Iseriah3, Jeremiah2, Edward1) was
born Abt. 1745 in Albemarle (now Amherst) , VA, and died 1806 in Wayne
Co., KY. He married Elizabeth Wade Abt. 1765 in probably Virginia,
daughter of John Wade and Elizabeth Dawson. She died September 06, 1816 in
Wayne Co., KY.

Notes for Samuel Denney:

As stated above, there is much controversy in Denney genealogy
circles. Contrary to the ancestry I have retained, some Denney researchers
ascribe Samuel's parents as a Samuel Denney--often called "Old Sam," who
was born between 1715-1722 and who died around 1804--and a Sarah Elizabeth
Suddarth/Soutard/Sudworth. Interestingly, according to the latest
DNA research, the results of which can be seen at the website given below,
our Samuel, 1745-1806, is related to this older Sam and may be as close as
his nephew.

"Amherst did not become a county
until 1761. It was formed from Albemarle which was formed from Goochland
in 1744. Goochland was formed in 1728 from Henrico which was an original
shire formed in 1634."

from "A Century in Wayne County, Kentucky 1800-1900, by Augusta Phillips
Johnson, p. 20:

'From 1800 to 1810, each year
brought a large number of families. Grants under the "Headright"
provision were made to the following:...Charles and Samuel Denny...'

from Denney researcher Jodie Huffaker of Dallas, TX, will and
inventory of Samuel Denney, written August 7, 1806 in Wayne County, KY;
proved May 9, 1807:

"I, Samuel Denney of Wayne County,
Kentucky, being frail in body though in sound mind and memory... make this
my last Will and Testament making void all other Wills formerly by me
made.

"I give my soul to Almighty God
who gave it. My will is that my body shall have a Christian like burial at
the expense of my executors, if present, if not by my friends then
present.

"I do made and appoint my
beloved wife, Elizabeth and son William Denney, my executors to settle all
my worldly affairs as follows" my will is that all my just and lawful
debts be justly paid.

"I leave my beloved wife to
have the power to consent to sell my land or not any time****** the sale
during her life and to have one third (1/3) of the profits of said place
during her life with the bedding and household affairs necessary for
housekeeping and house if she requires it with a certain bay horse known
by the name of Dick.

"I leave to my beloved sons,
Benjamin and Ezariah Denney my land to be equally divided between them
after the decease of their mother also I leave to them each a mare, to
wit--a gray to Ezariah and a bay to Benjamin how called their
property.

"I leave all my live stock that
not heretofore spoken of in the hands of my sons, to wit--Benjamin and
Ezariah for their support and to enable them to pay the state price of the
land in the case of or both should marry--I wish the fore mentioned stock
to be divided in 3 equal shares between them both and their mother and
each to have their third part.

"I leave all the balance of my
livestock after the sale price of the land is paid to be equally divided
between all my children, to wit--John, Samuel, William, Sarah, Benjamin
and Ezariah for which purpose I set my hand and seal this 7 August
1806.

"Samuel Denney

"Witnessed by Joshua Jones,
Agness Ballew, Anne Russell...

Agreeable to an order of the county Court of Wayne we the
appraisers of the Estate of Samuel Denny dec., have appraised the present
Estate as follow being first sworn:1 cow with calf--$81 cow with
calf--$81 cow with calf--$81 cow and yearling--$91 dry
cow--$71 steer four years old--$82 head of cattle 2 years
old--$812 head of sheep--$151 bay horse--$301 sorrel filly
three years old--$401 black horse--$351 sorrel horse 2 years
old--$301 sorrel 9 years old--$1219 head of hogs--$601 waggon
(sic) and hind ??--$35.321 set of Black Smith tules (sic)--$13.681
parcel of Old Iron tules--$43 sets of old plow Irons--$3.753 old
reap huks (?)--$0.75Bead and furniture--$6puter
(pewter)--$3Clapboard furniture--$1.251 pot and over--$3.501
kettle--$31 Sad Iron and Sheep Shears--$11 pot tamil
(?)--$1signed--William Jones, John Sanders, Ellishuh Huks

May 9, 1807"

The modern map above shows the last half of the route the
Denney family would have taken from Amherst Co., VA, to what would become
Wayne Co., KY. They would have taken the wagon road which ran along
the Clinch River, marked in turquoise, and passed first Castlewood
settlement, then Moore's Fort, and finally Ft. Blackmore, underlined in
pink, before reaching Daniel Boone's Wilderness Trail, marked in orange.
Turning west, they would eventually reach the Cumberland Gap.

info from Denney researcher R.C. Hill at RootsWeb.com site: Samuel
Denney listed a bondsman for the will of John Wade, July 2, 1787, Amherst
Co., VA; witness May 3, 1784 along with Wm. Trotter.

Deed Book D, p. 245, Amherst Co., VA, March 1, 1775, John Wade sold to
Samuel Denny 80 acres of land for 65 pounds located on Butlers Ridge,
Amherst, Co., VA;

Deed Book F, p. 331, Amherst Co., VA, April 17, 1789, Samuel and
Elizabeth sold to William Burnett for 50 pounds 70 acres which was
formally the property of John Wade located on north fork of Davies Creek,
Amherst Co.

Samuel Denney lived in close proximity to Wade family on or near Davies
Creek;

Also in deed books for Amherst County in the mid 1700s are a Benjamin
and a John.

The Cumberland Gap is pictured at right. Samuel,
wife Elizabeth, and his adult children would have traveled through
here.

Samuel, John, and Robert Denney on 1785 census for Mercer (Fayette)
Co., KY;

Samuel and John listed 1799 in Cumberland Co., KY (Wayne formed for
Cumberland in 1801).

from Denney researcher Janice E. McAlpine, mcalpage@cox.net:
"Samuel appear to have been a dissenter from the Church of England and
signed several petitions in the 1770s objecting to religious taxes and
requesting religious freedom. The originals of these petitions are in the
Library of Virginia. Given the Biblical names in his family, it is
possible that Samuel was a Quaker, but it is also possible that he was
Presbyterian, Baptist, or Methodist."

Azariah/Azeriah/Ezariah migrated with brother Benjamin into Madison
Co., IN, in late 1830s and settled in Pipe Creek Township.

from "Centennial History of Madison County," Netterville, 1925, p.
288: 'The first school was taught
[in Pipe Creek Twp., IN]... in a house erected for that purpose, on Jacob
Sigler's farm, near the present town of Frankton. Other early teachers
were Hezekiah [Azariah] Denny...'

12. Benjamin5 Denney (Samuel4,
Iseriah3, Jeremiah2, Edward1) was
born 1781 in Amherst Co., Virginia, and died 1855 in Nevada, Tipton
County, IN. He married Agnes Ripley Belew/Bellew/Ballow July 19, 1808 in
Wayne County, KY. She was born 1782 in Virginia.

Notes for Benjamin Denney:

from "History of Madison County, Indiana," 1880: 'Benjamin Denny was
among the first settlers in Pipe Creek Township in 1840.'

"A tract of land containing 164
acres was granted to Samuel Denney in April 1801 on the east side of
Beaver Creek, Wayne Co., KY. Land was next to land of James Rupells and
Michael Deans. This land was given to Samuel's two sons, Benjamin
and Ezariah Denney by Michael Denney, executor of Samuel Denney [will], 26
Jan. 1827. This land was sold by Benjamin, his wife Agnes and
Ezariah Denney to Raods[Rhodes] Farth [Garth] for $400 on 28 Sept.
1833. In Samuel Denney's will, his wife Elizabeth and son William
were executors. The above land was handled by Michael Denney probably
because Elizabeth had died and William had moved on to Indiana.

"...In 1833 he and brother Azariah
sold their land to Rhodes Garth and followed William to Madison Co., IN,
per Joan McConnell (I have William going to Monroe Co., Indiana)."

from unnamed Tipton County
history: "Nevada [village]--
Benjamin Denny was the first settler in Nevada, having come there about
1850... Samuel Denny [son] laid out the town in 1852, so he must have been
there before some of the others arrived. The post office was established
in 1850... The first business house was a general store... The first mill
was a combined grist and saw mill built by Lindsay Ballew in 1854..."
(Lindsay is Agnes Ripley Ballew Denney's son by former marriage.)

from Benjamin Denney descendant Lora Hunt Jeffries:

"Benjamin sold his land in Wayne
Co., KY, in 1833 and moved to...Pipe Creek Twp., Madison Co., IN, as one
of the earliest settlers. By 1848 he bought land in the next county
[west], Tipton Co., IN... The Nevada Cemetery was located on the
Denney farm. Benjamin died in 1855 and is thought to have been buried in
the Nevada Cemetery.

"1810 Wayne Co., KY census

Benjamin Denny

1 male 10-16 (stepson Lindsay Ballew b. 1805)

1 male 26-45 (Benjamin)

1 female under 10-(Mary b. 1809)

1 female 26-45 (Agnes Ripley Ballew Denny)

"1820 Wayne Co., KY census

Benjamin Denny

1 male under 10 (Samuel b. 1815)

1 male 16-18 (Lindsay)

1 male 18-26 ?

2 males 26-45 (Benjamin and his brother Azariah)

3 females under 10 (Lurana, Elizabeth "Betty", unnamed daughter?)

1 female 10-16 (Mary)

1 female 16-26 ?

1 female 16-45 (Agnes)

"1830 Wayne Co., KY census

Benjamin Denny

1 male 15-20 (Samuel)

2 males 40-50 (Benjamin and his brother Azariah)

1 female under 5 ?

2 females 5-10 (Sarah and Elizabeth)

1 female 10-20 (Lurana)

1 female 40-50 (Agnes)

"1840 Madison Co., IN census

Benjamin Denney

1 male 20-30 (Samuel)

2 males 50-60 (Benjamin and his brother Azariah)

1 female 10-15 ?

1 female 15-20 (Sarah)

1 female 50-60 (Agnes)

"1850 Tipton Co., IN census

Benjamin Denney, age 69

Azariah, age 68

Agnes, age 68

Samuel, age 35"

More About Benjamin Denney:

Fact 1: one of first settlers in Pipe Creek Twp., Madison County, IN,
1840;

13. John5 Denney (Samuel4, Iseriah3,
Jeremiah2, Edward1) was born August24, 1766 in Rockfish River, Amherst Co., VA, and died December
25, 1853 in Wayne Co., KY. He married Nancy Bell November 11, 1813 in
Wayne Co., KY. She was born 1795 in North Carolina.

Notes for John Denney:

from Denney researcher R.C. Hill at RootsWeb. com site:

"...a John Denney, believed to be the
son of Samuel, applied for a Revolutionary War pension in 1841. In the
pension application John Denney states he was born in Amherst Co.,
Virginia, on 24 August 1766 on the waters of the Rockfish River. He lived
20 years in Amherst Co. then moved to Fayette Co., KY. This would be about
1786 or 1787. He goes on to say that the family lived in Fayette Co. six
years then moved to Clark Co., KY. This would be about 1792. He had lived
in Wayne Co., KY, 43 years when he filed the pension application which
would have him moving to Wayne Co. in about 1798.

"...Fayette Co. was the original county in Kentucky that was formed
from Virginia.Clark Co. was formed from
Fayette and Wayne Co. from Cumberland and Pulaski. The 1785 listing of
Samuel and John in Mercer Co. was probably Fayette Co. as Mercer Co. was
not formed until 1786."

from Fay Clark's website "The Clarks of Otter Creek and Related
Families," RootsWeb.com:

14. William5 Denney (Samuel4,
Iseriah3, Jeremiah2, Edward1) was born
October 29, 1777 in Virginia, and died August 06, 1862 in Ellettsville,
Monroe Co., IN, age 91;. He married Margaret Scott June 19, 1804 in Wayne
Co., KY, daughter of John Scott. She was born June 01, 1788 in Kentucky or
Pennsylvania, and died October 24, 1877 in Monroe Co., IN.

Notes for William Denney:

from Denney researcher Kenneth R. Hill of Iowa, at RootsWeb site:

"In an interview with Wynona
Denney in April 1986 she stated that William Denney came to Monroe Co.,
Indiana, from Kentucky with his family in an ox cart. She stated that
family history has William Denney's father coming over from Ireland and
landing in Virginia."

More About William Denney:

Burial: Denney Cemetery, Washington Twp., Monroe Co., IN

Fact 1: moved from Wayne Co., KY, to IN in 1827 in ox cart;

Fact 2: listed on 1850 census for Washington Twp., Monroe Co., IN;

Fact 3: great-granddaughter Wynona Denney still living on Denney family
farm in 1986;

+ 50 viii. William "Buck" Denney, born December 30, 1822 in Kentucky;
died September 1912.

+ 51 ix. Azariah Denney, born September 26, 1825 in Kentucky; died
September 16, 1865 in Indiana.

+ 52 x. Samuel Denney, born August 10, 1828 in Kentucky; died August
06, 1908 in Spencer, IN.

17. Sarah5 Denney (Samuel4, Iseriah3,
Jeremiah2, Edward1) was born April 1783 in Virginia,
and died Aft. 1848 in Clinton Co., KY. She married Ephriam Guffey July 20,
1803 in Wayne Co., KY. He was born September 20, 1765 in Amherst Co., VA,
and died 1843.

53 i. Alice Fair6 Guffey, born January 03, 1802. She married
Absalom Davis.

54 ii. Bradcut Guffey, born June 15, 1804.

55 iii. Constant Guffey, born February 11, 1805.

56 iv. Ephraim Guffey, born April 27, 1807.

57 v. Martha Guffey, born 1808.

58 vi. William Guffey, born October 11, 1811.

59 vii. Andrew Guffey, born 1822.

60 viii. John Guffey, born 1826.

25. Henry5 Denney (James4, Iseriah3,
Jeremiah2, Edward1) was born April 04, 1788 in
Virginia, and died June 19, 1881 in Denney Hollow, Wayne Co., KY. He
married Mary Polly Brown March 11, 1813 in Powersburg, Wayne Co., KY,
daughter of William Brown. She was born December 14, 1798 in Cumberland
Co., KY, and died July 11, 1833 in Wayne Co., KY.

29. Lurana6 Denney (Benjamin5,
Samuel4, Iseriah3, Jeremiah2,
Edward1) was born 1812 in Wayne Co., KY and died 1855 in
Indiana. She married David Decker October 11, 1832 in Wayne, Co. Kentucky,
son of Thomas Decker and Sarah Alley. He was born 1814 in Wayne, Co.,
Kentucky and died February 12, 1888 in Elwood, IN.

More About Lurana Denney:

Fact 1: "Rainey"/Lorainny/Lurana various spellings;

Fact 2: died in childbirth with last child, 1855;

Notes for David Decker:

A Little History of the David Decker Family, unpublished manuscript, by
granddaughter Daisy Field-Fink, daughter of Cynthia A. (Annie) Decker
Dwiggins, who married Addison Dwiggins; letter dated June 3, 1961:

"Mother's father, Grandpa Decker,
was born in Kentucky near Monticello where Mae (Mrs. James Humble) now
lives. His father's (Thomas Decker's) house was standing on the bank of
the Cumberland River when Mother and I were there. It was built high off
the ground and there was an old tree standing by it. You could see where
the water had left its mark high up on the tree when the river had been in
flood. Right across the river from that old house was where Uncle Bill
(William) Decker lived when we were there. We went across the river in a
little row boat, Mother and I. Just twelve miles from that place is
Monticello where the old courthouse was, all covered with vines, and where
Grandpa got his marriage license and was married.

"He fell in love with a young girl
name Betty (Elizabeth) Allie/Alley [actually Denney], and they wanted to
get married, but her parents said they were too young and would not let
them. So Grandpa went and joined the army. I think it was at the time of
the Mexican War, thinking he would be old enough when he returned. But
when he was discharged and came back, hoping to marry Betty, he found her
sweeping off a large flat rock that lay outside their cabin door and from her appearance he knew she was
expecting a baby. She had married a man by the name of Barrow. It hurt
Grandpa and made him mad so he turned around and married her older sister
for spite. Betty had married Barrow to spite her parents.

At right is a copy of the
tintype labeled "David William Decker" from descendant Dot Stephens
Allen. The beads around David's neck are Indian beads obtained from
bartering.

"Then Grandpa left Kentucky and
came to Indiana. I believe he settled around Frankton. There was a little
United Brethren church near, and Grandpa was converted and became class
leader in the church, a position he held for some time. There were two men
in the church who owned adjoining farms that were having difficulties over
a line fence. They decided to go to law about the matter, and Grandpa did
not think it right, but they should settle the matter as the Bible
indicated. They would not listen to him, so he resigned and left the
church. He was a back-slider until he was an old man; I think I was about
five years old.

"I don't know how many children he
had when he left Madison County and went to Tipton County to live. He
entered several hundred acres of land from the government and had to live
on the various pieces a stated time to be able to get a deed for them. He
was living there, close around Tipton and Sharpsville, when mother was
born. The closest neighbor was a half mile and the children to follow.
When the woman got there my mother was born, washed, and cared for by her
mother as she had no doctor.

"Grandpa had a lot of dealings with the
Indians as there were many of them about. He would have been a wealthy man
had he let whiskey alone, but he drank and was a very wicked and brutal
man in his family. He was not good to Grandma (Lurana Denney) as he always
held a grudge about Betty (Elizabeth) marrying Barrow, and he mistreated
the sister that he married. Mother said he would come home drunk and run
all of them out of the house and stand, holding an ax over her mother's
head. He was so cruel, and treated her so badly that when the last baby
was born, she died and so did the infant. But before Grandma died, Betty's
husband had died and left her with five children. Grandpa was left with
nine children, and Aunt Ellie was just a nursing baby when Grandma died,
so Grandpa and Betty married and there were children on both sides, her
children being older than his children. Grandpa was not good to her
children, but Mother said her Aunt Betty was a real mother to his
children. He resented all the children, his and hers because they had not
belonged to both of them. He still held that old grudge against her for
marrying Barrow, and he made life very unhappy for all of them.

"He kept whiskey by the barrel at
the house, and Mother said he would come home, late at night, and make
her, a little girl of eleven, get up and go out, catch a chicken, and fry
it for him, and the men he had brought home with him. And when she had
cooked it he would whip her and make her dance for them; Betty did not
dare say a word. She said he would come home drunk and run them out of the
house and keep them out all night.

"He took a lease, intending to cut
the timber off it, and took Betty along to cook for the men he had working
for him, leaving Aunt Jane and Aunt Lizzie at home to keep the smaller
children. They just had a little log cabin, and when they went to bed they
closed the door. There was a little "smoke-house" just a few feet from the
cabin where they smoked their meat, and Grandpa had several gourds, filled
with gun-powder, hanging in it. During the night someone set fire to the
cabin and had come and opened the door they had closed on retiring and
propped it open. The fire awakened the girls, and they got the smaller
children out and away safe. The powder gourds began to explode and someone
"hollered" a little distance away. It burned everything they had; only the
things they had washed and was still hanging on the line remained. They
all thought....................(?)

"I have heard Aunt Julia and Mother talk
about those times--and laugh. Grandpa got a covered wagon fixed up,
hitched two oxen to it, and went all the way back to Kentucky to bring his
father (Thomas Decker) and mother (Sarah Alley) to Indiana. I forgot how
long Mother said it took him to make the trip, but they would not leave
Kentucky and come with him. It made him mad, and he told them they would
never see him again--and they never did.

"Dennie Brankle was Betty's
daughter's son that lived at Middletown. She lived in Windfall, and Betty
left Grandpa and went to live with Martha Brankle. One day Mother was
there and she and Betty were looking through some pictures, and they came
upon Grandpa's picture. Betty cried and said: 'Annie, put it away. If I
can't live with him I can't bear to look at this picture.'

"When my mother and father moved
to Van Wert, Ohio, Grandpa went with them, also Uncle Newton. Mellie
(Melville, Annie Dwiggin's oldest son) was a year old at that time and it
was wild country there. Deer would come up to the house, and Grandpa
killed a lot of them according to Mother. She said when Dad started to
town, he would take a *u*s-*ail with him and have to get out every little
while and dislodge the mud from the wheels. My little sister Harriet Ellen
was (born?) there. Mother and Dad had raised her youngest sister, Aunt
Ellie, and she was with them also. She was about twenty and engaged to
marry a Methodist minister, but shortly before their marriage date she
died, and about two months later my little sister died. They are both
buried out there (Ohio). Rob (Robert Fink, Daisy Dwiggins' last husband)
and I went to the graveyard where they are buried. There is a lovely
highway runs right by the cemetery. Mother would not believe me. She said
it just could not be. I went to an orchard just across the highway and
brought her some apples from the place where she and Dad used to take the
wagon and to get apples to make apple butter. We would have taken her to
see the old place had she been able to make the trip.

"Uncle Newt (Newton) married out
there and they had a little girl two years old and then she had twin girls
and died. He left them with her mother until he could return to Frankton
and find someone to take care of them for him. When he went back to get
them her mother had placed them in a home, and they had "adopted them out"
and he could not find them, and he never did find them until they were all
married and had families. Mother and Aunt Julia went out there to visit
Uncle Amos Decker, and they found out where they (the girls) were all
married and had families. Two farmers had adopted the twins, and they
lived on adjoining farms, but they did not find out they were sisters
until both ************Dayton, Ohio. So he (Newt), at last, got to see
them. I went to see Nola when we were in Dayton. The girls just thought
that he did not try to find them, I suppose. Nola begged him to come and
live with them, but he would not.

"Grandpa took a l**** ***
***land north of Elwood, built him a little cabin right in the woods and
lived there. Mother and I went out to see him one day that I remember so
well: he was sitting outside the cabin on an old split-bottom chair,
leaning back against the cabin. His ***on *acks (guns on racks?) in the
house, seed-corn hanging about along with the gourds containing his
gun-powder. I can see that scene yet. He had been "reclaimed" and I
remember him walking back and forth across Mother's rooms, clad in his
black and red plaid shirt, with his hands behind his back--singing "Am I a
soldier of the Cross, a follower of The Lamb," praising the Lord and
weeping. He went with Mother and I to the Christian church, where Mother
belonged, and the preacher said: "Brother Decker, testify." Grandpa stood
up, but began to weep saying: "I can't, Brother (Perkins?), I'm too (
sinful?). He said to Mother one day: "Well, Annie, I have told all the
children, excepting Belle, that I taught you wrong ****, that all would go
to Heaven, no matter what they did or believed. If the Lord just lets me
live until I can see her and tell her, I'll be happy. But he took sick a
little while after this and they brought him to Aunt Julia's (Wood) home
and there he died. He did not get to see Aunt Belle, but she came to his
funeral.

"His children were Amos, Newt,
Dave, Lizzie, Jane, Belle, Julia, Annie, Ellie, one young man that died. I
don't know the rest. I believe there were twelve.

'Records prove that the first actual
white settlers came in near the year 1845, and located near the north fork
of Wildcat, in the northern part of the township. These were David Decker,
Philemon Plummer, Robert Stephens, Ira Plummer and their respective
families. Decker came from Madison county, adjoining, and erected a
primitive pole cabin, around which a few rods of ground were cleared for a
truck patch. However, the wet state of the county precluded a very
bountiful living from the soil, so Decker was forced to depend upon his
rifle for his main subsistence. Game was plentiful, and the meat used for
the table and the skins used as a medium or exchange or for clothing.
Decker lived on his original claim some five years, when he disposed of it
and moved farther south, near the present site of Windfall. Here he became
the possessor of a valuable tract of real estate, which he owned until
1871l, when he sold all of his property and moved from the township.. He
was a man of prominence in his community and was chosen a justice of the
peace at the first election after the township organization.'

from a second history "Tipton County, Indiana":

'Decker was elected Wildcat
Township's first justice of the peace and was a teacher in its first
school in 1848. His son Elbert was the first known white child born in
Wildcat Township. The children of David and Lurana Decker in 1850 were
Tabitha, William, Sally, Amos, Cynthia, Agnes, and Nancy. David Decker
sold his real estate and moved out of the township in 1871.'

also from the above publication, page 148:

'The first school was taught in a
rude cabin which stood near Mud Creek in the northern part of the
township, about the year 1848. This building was hastily constructed by
the few neighbors living in the vicinity, and served its purpose about
three years. The first pedagogue who wielded the rod of authority at this
place (Wild Cat Township) was David Decker, who is remembered as a very
competent instructor for that day. As no certificates or qualification
were requisite at that time, we are unable to enlighten our readers as to
Prof. Decker's scholastic attainments.'

family notes made by Mrs. Robert E. Jones of Newcastle, IN:

1. Kentucky Deckers saw "the stars fall" November 1833; [This would
have been the Perseid meteor shower that occurred the night of November
13, 1833, one of the most important astronomic events of the 19th
century.]

2. Quakers gave David 80 acres for surveying; he walked to Ft. Wayne to
record deeds; shot a wildcat along the way;

3. saw or had a sycamore tree covered with deerskin;

4. drove hogs to Cincinnati; had a pair of oxen;

5. ox died when trapped on *****; young David (David Oliver?) was put
inside of ox while old David ???..."

from "Cemetery Records of Tipton County":

an Elias B. Decker, 1820-1883, buried in New Lancaster Cemetery (or
Cook), 1 mile west of New Lancaster; cemetery started in 1845; also an
Angelina Decker, 1814-1855, wife of Isaac Decker; and James Decker,
1818-1886, with wife Artemesia, 1822-1857.

More About David (William?) Decker:

Fact 1: BLM deed for MC 1837; went to Tipton County from MC in 1845

Fact 2: sold out in 1871 and moved back to Elwood, Madison County;

Fact 3: near Wildcat Creek in northern part of Tipton County; BLM
deed1849;

Fact 4: 2nd marriage to Elizabeth Denney Barrow 1856 a sister of 1st
wife; she divorced him in 1879;

Fact 5: erected primitive pole cabin; had "truck patch";

Fact 6: 'depended on his rifle for subsistence';

Fact 7: after 5 years moved further south to Windfall;

Fact 8: 'man of prominence in his community' in "History of Tipton
County, IN";

Fact 9: elected first justice of the peace for Wildcat Twp.

Fact 10: one of earliest settlers in Wildcat Twp., Tipton County,
IN;

Fact 11: teacher in first school in 1848; son Elbert was first white
child in area;

Fact 12: cause of death cysticis, Dr. Sigler or Sizelove;

Fact 13: Dave had a brother John who stayed in Monticello, KY,
according to granddaughter;

Fact 14: had first child born in Wild Cat Township;

Fact 15: tin-type picture;

Fact 16: Living with daughter Nancy "Julia" Wood in Elwood, IN 1880
census;

Children of Lurana Denney and David Decker are:

+ 79 i. David Oliver7 Decker, born July 12, 1854 in
Indiana; died 1937 in Elwood, IN.

+ 87 ix. Newton J. Decker, born 1852 in Tipton Co., IN; died November
28, 1938 in Madison County, IN.

88 x. Mary Elizabeth Decker, born 1855.

89 xi. Thomas C. Decker.

90 xii. Elbert Decker.

More About Elbert Decker:

Fact1: from Tipton Co., IN, history: "son Elbert was first white child
in area [Wildcat Twp.]";

33. Sarah6 Denney (Benjamin5, Samuel4,
Iseriah3, Jeremiah2, Edward1) was born
February 21, 1822 in Wayne Co., KY, and died November 08, 1868 in Randolph
Co., IN. She married Milton Coffin December 1846 in Madison Co., IN, son
of Jonathan Coffin and Martha Parker.

"My mother was a Coffin and I
knew that her ancestor, Milton Coffin, married Sarah Denny but I didn't
know any more than that. I kept asking my aging relatives if they
could give me any more information but they kept saying "no".
Finally I asked my Uncle Lonnie once again and he said " I remember
Aunt Lou Cropper who was a Denny. Her father was Sarah Denny's
brother. I remember Aunt Lou because she used to entertain us by
taking off her wooden leg.

" I tracked down Aunt Lou
and on her marriage license it listed her father as Samuel Denny and her
mother as Nancy Riley and that's how I found out Sarah Denny's
family. If Aunt Lou hadn't had a wooden leg I'd never tracked them
down!!"

from Benjamin Denney descendant Lora Jeffries, Carmel, IN: "Samuel
Denny laid out the town [Nevada] in 1852 so he must have been there before
some of the others arrived."

"History of Nevada Cemetery...": 'This
cemetery involves two pieces of land in the same section but different
quarter sections. One piece was entered by Aaron Steelman from the
government and the other piece was entered by William Marshall. Obviously
from studying the history of this cemetery the early part was platted by
William Marshall and his neighbor, Samuel Denny. .....Samuel Denny deeded
the land to Hannah Wise "except for the graveyard" on Feb. 19, 1855. This
is the first mention of the cemetery.'

35. William Dawson6 Denney (John5,
Samuel4, Iseriah3, Jeremiah2,
Edward1) was born 1816. He married Sophrenia Hughes. She was
born 1833.

42. Lindsay6 Denney (John5, Samuel4,
Iseriah3, Jeremiah2, Edward1) was born
April 26, 1831. He married Louisa Hughes. She was born 1831.

Children of Lindsay Denney and Louisa Hughes are:

133 i. R. J.7 Denney, born 1855.

134 ii. Julia Denney, born 1856.

135 iii. William Denney, born 1857.

43. Benoni6 Denney (William5, Samuel4,
Iseriah3, Jeremiah2, Edward1) was born
February 03, 1813 in Kentucky, and died August 11, 1891 in Monroe Co., IN.
He married Letty Hanson 1825 in Wayne Co., KY.

More About Benoni Denney:

Burial: Denney Cemetery, Washington Twp., Monroe Co., IN

Fact 1: had 10 children;

Children of Benoni Denney and Letty Hanson are:

136 i. William7 Denney, born 1828.

137 ii. Margaret Denney, born 1830.

138 iii. Nancy Denney, born 1831.

139 iv. Isaac Denney, born 1839.

140 v. Dawson Denney, born 1841.

141 vi. Samuel Denney, born 1843.

142 vii. Azariah Denney, born 1847.

143 viii. William Denney, born 1851.

144 ix. John S. Denney, born 1854.

44. Dawson6 Denney (William5, Samuel4,
Iseriah3, Jeremiah2, Edward1) was born
January 17, 1808 in Kentucky, and died March 30, 1889. He married Rebecca
McNeill.

More About Dawson Denney:

Fact 1: had 10 children;

Children of Dawson Denney and Rebecca McNeill are:

145 i. William7 Denney, born 1833.

146 ii. Susanna Denney, born 1834.

147 iii. Sarah Denney, born 1838.

148 iv. Nancy Jane Denney, born 1839.

149 v. James Maron Denney, born 1841.

150 vi. Mary Denney, born 1844.

151 vii. David Benjamin Denney, born 1847.

152 viii. Rebecca Denney, born 1850.

46. Nancy6 Denney (William5, Samuel4,
Iseriah3, Jeremiah2, Edward1) was born
March 05, 1813 in Wayne Co., KY, and died January 29, 1894 in Indiana. She
married Charles Clendenen 1835 in Monroe Co., IN.

More About Nancy Denney:

Burial: Simson Cemetery, Washington Twp., Monroe Co., IN

Child of Nancy Denney and Charles Clendenen is:

+ 153 i. Esther Ann7 Clendenen.

49. Elizabeth6 Denney (William5,
Samuel4, Iseriah3, Jeremiah2,
Edward1) was born March 01, 1820 in Wayne Co., KY, and died
February 17, 1914. She married Allen Gaskins.

More About Elizabeth Denney:

Burial: Simson Cemetery, Washington Twp., Monroe Co., IN

More About Allen Gaskins:

Fact 1: had 4 children;

Children of Elizabeth Denney and Allen Gaskins are:

154 i. Margaret7 Gaskins.

155 ii. William Gaskins.

156 iii. Sarah Gaskins.

157 iv. Samuel Gaskins.

158 v. Charles Gaskins.

159 vi. Mary Gaskins, born 1858.

50. William "Buck"6 Denney (William5,
Samuel4, Iseriah3, Jeremiah2,
Edward1) was born December 30, 1822 in Kentucky, and died
September 1912. He married Ann Gastiers.

More About William "Buck" Denney:

Fact 1: had 6 children;

Children of William Denney and Ann Gastiers are:

160 i. John B.7 Denney, born 1852.

161 ii. Margaret Denney, born 1854.

162 iii. Mary A. Denney, born 1857.

163 iv. Sarah Denney, born 1861.

164 v. Elias Denney, born 1864.

165 vi. Hoza B. Carrington Denney, born 1866.

51. Azariah6 Denney (William5,
Samuel4, Iseriah3, Jeremiah2,
Edward1) was born September 26, 1825 in Kentucky, and died
September 16, 1865 in Indiana. He married Lydia Massey December 15, 1862.

More About Azariah Denney:

Burial: Denney Cemetery, Washington Twp., Monroe Co., IN

Fact 1: died of tooth ache;

Children of Azariah Denney and Lydia Massey are:

166 i. Margaret7 Denney, born January 01, 1864.

+ 167 ii. Azariah Carrington Denney, born April 22, 1866.

52. Samuel6 Denney (William5, Samuel4,
Iseriah3, Jeremiah2, Edward1) was born
August 10, 1828 in Kentucky, and died August 06, 1908 in Spencer, IN. He
married Elizabeth Mulkey September 18, 1849.